Constitution of calcium channel current in hamster submandibular ganglion neurons

The submandibular ganglion (SMG) neuron has been well established as the parasympathetic ganglion that innervates the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. Thus this neuron plays a key role in salivary secretion. In a previous study, we reported that SMG possessed T-, L-, N-, P/Q- and R-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs). In this study, we analyzed the contribution of the distinct subtypes of VDCCs currents (ICa) using the whole-cell configuration of the patch clamp technique in SMG neurons. In addition, we also investigated the effects of a strong voltage prepulse on the contributions of the subtypes of VDCCs. In SMG neuronal ICa without a prepulse, the mean percentages of L-, N-, P-, Q- and R-type were 39.7, 31.5, 10.6, 7.1 and 7.9%. In SMG neuronal ICa with prepulse, the mean percentages of L-, N-, P-, Q- and R-type were 37.2, 34.0, 14.0, 7.6 and 7.0%. Thus, these results showed that SMG possess multiple types of VDCCs and that N- and P-type VDCCs are facilitated by a prepulse in SMG neurons.